This dress was worn on November 27, 1862 by Martha (Mattie) Clark, at her wedding to John Cummins of Eden Prairie. On the day of their wedding, John noted in his diary: "No longer a bachelor." John did not serve in the Civil War. He was exempted from service because he paid $300 to avoid the draft. His diary records his attempts to find a substitute for the draft, as well as his payment to avoid service.